Job Description

South Dakota News Watch, a nonprofit, independent news organization, seeks an experienced investigative government and political reporter for the statehouse in Pierre.

The beat: The successful candidate will lead a new state government and political beat. They will produce compelling, unique stories that clearly explain to South Dakotans the goings-on in all three branches of government and why they should care. That includes during the Legislature, which meets for two months every year. The journalist will also report on the state’s vibrant political scene, which in 2026 includes a gubernatorial race, and the state’s three members of Congress, one of whom is Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Stories about Kristi Noem, former South Dakota governor and current Homeland Security secretary, will be expected as part of the beat.

The journalist needed: In-depth, investigative and public service storytelling forms the foundation of South Dakota News Watch’s mission to shed light on the issues, concerns and welfare of the state’s residents. The job of statehouse reporter requires a commitment to nonpartisanship, accuracy, fairness and the highest personal and professional ethical standards and a dogged pursuit of stories that tell South Dakotans something they didn’t know. Fundamental investigative skills are a must: document and database reporting, source development and interviews that go beyond the surface. 

The audience: Besides South Dakota News Watch’s own platforms (website, email newsletters, social media), content is provided at no cost to 100 newspaper, broadcast and online media partners statewide and picked up by The Associated Press.

The location: Must live in Pierre, work from home and the Capitol, and be available to occasionally travel statewide. Pierre is home to outdoor activities and a highly ranked school district. It’s three hours from Sioux Falls in the east and Rapid City/Black Hills in the west.

Responsibilities:  

• Identify and track stories from the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government as well as the state’s political scene
• Write focused, compelling, unique stories that are accurate and fair and include real people who are impacted by the subject 
• Produce investigations that examine major issues in the state and explore solutions
• File and track local, state and federal document requests and conduct in-depth research using public records, court documents, interviews and online databases 
• Earn the trust of, foster and maintain relationships with confidential news sources from a variety of backgrounds, industries and regions of the state
• Conduct unbiased and ethical reporting and remain impartial while asking probing questions
• Excellent organizational ability to prioritize and work on several stories at once
• Knowledge of AP Stylebook
• Able to analyze data in spreadsheets and identify storylines
• Professional appearance, demeanor and behavior

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in journalism, political science or relevant field 
• At least three years of reporting experience with a knack for breaking news
• Already have a social media following, use it to promote stories and engage with readers, and be comfortable creating social videos and discussing the beat on television and radio 
• Able to gather photos and videos/audio with an iPhone
• Able to quickly file shorter stories and go deeper on subjects when needed 
• Ethics that align with the Society of Professional Journalists
• A nimble, innovative mindset and willingness to share ideas that help the organization adapt to a changing media landscape 

Reports to: CEO

Schedule: 40 hours/week, primarily 8-4:30 Monday-Friday but flexible to accommodate personal/family responsibilities 

Compensation/benefits: Salary $65,000-$75,000, depending on experience; eight paid holidays and 15 days paid time off that increases; paid health insurance with optional employee-paid family, dental and vision plans; $25,000 of life insurance; retirement match of up to 3% 

About South Dakota News Watch: Unlike local traditional and new media organizations that cover the top news of the day, South Dakota News Watch instead goes deep on important statewide issues, uses solutions journalism to go beyond just identifying problems and verifies trending claims through fact briefs. We do research and reporting that explains complex topics relevant to people and policymakers. And we use scientific polling, public forums and other tools to explore what’s on the minds of South Dakotans.

Discrimination policy: South Dakota News Watch is dedicated to reflecting the people we cover. We are an equal-opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age or any other status protected under applicable law. 

Deadline: June 13, 2025

To apply: Submit a PDF of your resume and work samples to CEO Carson Walker at carson.walker@sdnewswatch.org . You may also chat about the job before applying.

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